Oil gasifier



Dec. 20, 1932. G. L. REICHHELM OIL GAS IFI R Original Filed Aug. 15. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheety 1 Dec. 20, 1932. c. L. REICHHELM -OIL GASIFIER Original Filed Aug. 15. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 @gorge fido/mez@ @1MM M, #wu-g.

Patented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GmRGE L. BEICHHELI, F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGIBTOZR T0 THE GA'SIFIER COMPANY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY OIL G ASUIER Original application illed August 15, 192'1, Serial No. 492,237. Divided and this application led November 24, 1924.r

The present invention relates to gasifiers.

The present application is a division of aplication for United States Letters Patent, erial No. 492,237, filed by the present applicant on August 15, 1921.

The present invention relates to mechanism for converting low-grade liquid fuels, such as heavy fuel oil, into a light, highly combustible gas. Various devic'es have een designed for gasifying low-grade fuel oil, some of which operate upon the principle of causing the oil to be separated, vaporized or -broken up into globules, supplied with air and projected against aA hot surface. The globules referred to are thereby supplied with sufficient heat to still more finely divide them resulting in a more or less combustible mixture. Devices of this sort have been open to objections for the reason that they are Wastefulof oil, require a large space, entail a large loss of energy and cause deposits of carbon.

An object of the present invention is -to provide a gasiiier in which the characteristics of the gas may be readily controlled.L

A further object is to provide mechanism which will convert liquid fuel into a iixed gas, whereby said gas may be distributed through pipes, tubes or manifolds without condensation.

A further object is to provide a gasiier for converting low-grade liquid fuel into proper form for use in internal combustion engines or gas turbines.

A further object is to provide mechanism for converting low grade liquid fuel into a gas which will mix very readily with air and therefore permit combustion in a minimum A further object is to provide a gasifier for low 'grade liquid fuels which will occupy a minimum of space.

A further object is to provide a gasifier for `fractionally distilling an oil fuel in, which which carbon deposits will be'very greatly minimized or substantially eliminated.

Referring to the drawingsthe line 6 6 of Figure 3.

serial No. 752949.

tra-ting the combustion chamber and parts adjacent thereto;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

f Figure 5 is a view in elevation' of partof the apparatus; and

vFigure 6 is a sectional view taken along In order to provide a perspective of the invention,'it may be stated brieiiy that oil or other liquid fuel is subjected to air and with the air projected in'an atomized state into a combustion chamber. Said fuel is preferably caused to take a curved or swirlin motion by means of jets of oxygen-containlng Huid, preferably air. The fuel is thereby prevented from im ingin directly upon the wall ofthe cham er an at the same time a reg-,\

further combustion raises the mixture to an 11. It is within this housing 14 that the fuel is gasified and fixed in gaseous condition.

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75 ulatable supply of airis provided. vDuring Said housing 14 comprises a combustion chamber 15, a secondary or superheating chamber 16 and a portion 17 provided with a baffle wall 18 to provide a tortuous passage, the functions of which will be described hereinafter.

Mounted in the drum 10 in a position to discharge into the chamber 15 is a nozzle 19, which may have screw-threaded engagement with the housing 14. Said nozzle forms part of the mechanism for breaking up liquid oil into a spray or vapor and mixing air therewith. Said vaporiz'ing mechanism, which is best i lustrated in Figure 2, is indicated as a whole by the numeral 20. As illustrated, said mechanism comprises a pair of arms 21 and 22, which may be secured together in parallel relation. Of these arms, the one indicated by the numeral 21 is designed to admit oil and for this purpose is provided at the bottom thereof with an inlet 23. The inflow of oil is controlled by means of a needle valve 24 which is mounted on the screw-threaded stem 25 and which is manually controlled by means of the hand wheel 26.

The arm 22 serves as means for admitting air and is provided with an inlet port 27 which communicates with a chamber 28, eX- tending longitudinally of the arm 22. Mounted for reciprocating movement within the arm 22 is a tube 29, which is adapted to carry oil. Communicating with the needle valve 24 of the arm 21 is the pipe connection 30 which provides communication for oil from the inlet port 23 through the tube 31 to the tube 29. It will be understood, of course, that the two sections 31 of tubing will be connected together.

Air which is admitted to theport 27 may pass downwardly through nozzle 19 into the combustion chamber 15 and has another .means of exit through the pipe 32, which comsaid pipe 32. The tube 29 is provided with a contracted end portion or nozzle 34, which is adapted to cooperate withthe wall lof noz.- zle 19 to vary the area of theoutletport for the air fiowing downwardly through chamber 28. Movementof the tube 29 will therefore govern the flow of air through boththe nozzle 19 and the pipe 32. The tube 29 is provided With a collar 35, which cooperates with a nut 36 within the arm 22. Said nut 36 has a longitudinally extending shank 37, which forms the support for a gear 38. Rotation of said gear 38 operates through nut 36 and collar 35 to effect vertical movement of the tube 29. The stem 25, which controls the ow of oil is provided with a gear 39, said gears 38 and 39 being connected together through an idler pinion 40, which pinion 40 is resiliently held in position to engage the two gears 38 and 39 by the spring 41. Independent adjustment of stem 25 and tube 29 may be accomplished by raising the pinion 40 against the tension of spring 41, thereby permitting the rotation of gear 38 or gear 39 independently of the other. When the correct ratio between the supply of oil and the supply of air has been determined and the stem 25 and tube 29 have been properly set, thegears 38 and 39 will be connected together by means of pinion 40 and this ratio of oil to air will be maintained regardless of changes in the total amount of oil and air being supplied to the gasifier. Relative adjustments of stem 25 and tube 29 may be necessary when changes are made. in the fuel oil supplied to the gasifier. It will be noted that portions of the inner'wall of the chamber 15 are curved about axes substantially normal to the axis of the nozzle 19.

Air, which will be referred to as secondary air, which passes from the chamber 28 through pipe 32 to the drum 10, will be admitted to the combustion chamber through the orifices 42 and orifices 43, which orifices lie in chords interscctin the curved inner wall of said chamber. nly a few orifices are illustrated in Figure 3, but it will be understood that other orifices will be provided ina number of lanes. Said orifices 42 and 43 will prefera ly have a direction whereby jets emitted from saidorifices into thel combustion chamber 15 will set up a tangential or swirling movement to fluid within said combustion chamber 15. Forfthis purposeorifces 42 are so disposed as to direct air against the superficial particles of the main streamof oil and air in a direction opposed to the direction of flow of said particles.r The pressure of the air through said `orifices 42, as referred to above, sets up a swirling movement, producing a very thorough mixture of air with the superficial portion of the stream of vaporized oil and "air, and there is combustion at a high temperature which vaporizes the oil and maintains the ejecting nozzle at a high temperature. It will be noted in Figure 3 that the neck between chamber l5 and superheating chamber 16 is not -symmetricalgwith chamber 15, but is so formed that it directs fluid from chamber 15 downwardly into said superheating chamber 16. As illustrated, flames emitted inwardly fromyorifices 42, will set up a swirling movement in the chamber 15 in a counterclockwise direction. This swirling movement will be aided by jets emitted inwardly from orifices 42 and jets emitted inwardly by orifices 43, the latter mentioned jets also tending to force the gases down into the superheating chamber`16. The walls of superheating chamber 16 are curved to cause the gases to be diverted down toward the bale plate 18. The gases do not come in contact with vany sharp corners and in passing around 'said baille plate are still further mixed. Located below the baille plate 18 is the outlet 44, through which the oil gases may be led oil' to burners,'reservoirs or other devices. A

1n starting the above described mechanism for gasilfying functions, the spray ofl oil mixed with air may be ignited in any preerred way. In Figures 1 and 3, a s ark plug 45 is provided for this purpose. nstead of a spark plug an ordinary taper may be used.

. Figure 4 illustrates a structure having a hole 46 which may receive a spark plug, a taper or any other igniting means. Said hole 46 is provided with a closure member 47 which may be removably held in place by means of the yoke 48 and the screw-threaded member 49.'

The numeral 50 indicates a sight tube communicating with the chamber 15. Said sight tube 50 is provided with a mica Window 51 through which the combustion within chamber 15 (Figure 3) may be observed. Said Window 51 may be provided with a cover 52, which may be removably held in place by means of the yoke 53 and screw-threaded member 54.

Briefly reviewing the mode of operation of the above described embodiment of the present invention, it may be stated that liquid fuel is admitted through the port 23, and air is admitted through the port 27 (Figure 2). Thecorrect ratio between the flow of liquid fuel and air may be adjusted by throwing the pinon 40 out of mesh with gears 38 and 39 and moving said gears independently of' one another until the correct ratio is obtained. Said pinion 40 may then be permitted to snap back into mesh with the gears 38 and 39, whereby to provide unitary control for both liquid fuel and air. Liquid fuel will pass from port 23 past needle valve 24'into tube 31, thence through tube 29 to the nozzle 19. Air from the port 27 will also issue from nozzle 19 and will cause liquid fuel to assume the form of an atomized stream projected from said ,nozzle 1,9 into the chamber 15 (Figure 3). Not onlywill air pass tothe "the chamber 15 through orifices 42 and orifices 43. The jets issuingfrom these orifices will act as iuid baiies unlting with the superiicial particles of the spray projected from the nozzle 19, whereby there will be no im-l pinging of said spray directly upon any solid wall. The air in said jets unites with the superficial portion of the stream to form a combustible mixture within the chamber 15 and secondary chamber 16 which is ignited by means of the spark plug 45, or other preferred means, and combustion at a high temperature will occur. Only a limited supply of air will be admitted, suicient for combining with the superficial part of the stream of atomized fuel. The heat generated by the combustion of the air and said part of the fuel Will gasify the remainder of said fuel and fix said gas. Moreover, the combustion of said swirling mixture will maintain the cooperating nozzles 19 and 34 at a high temperature. Due to the contour of the housing 14 and the action of the jets issuing from orifices 42 and orifices 43, the mixture of air and liquid fuel will be caused to take a circuitous or swirling motion resultingv in the complete commingling of the superficial particles of oil with air or complete gommingling of air with a part of the main stream. Combustion Will be with a blue flame, leaving no deposit of carbon'.

AThe fact that a blue flame, 'indicating perfeet combustion, is maintained in the presence of a superabundance of gas, should be particularly noted. A reasonable explanation for this phenomenon seems to be that as soon as the gasifier is heated, the product issuing from nozzle 19 is projected throughout thel entire combustion chamber and the air jets,yissuing at low velocity relatively -to the velocity of the stream issuing from the nozzle 19, from apertures 42 and 43 combine at Qnce with the superficial portions ofA said product resulting in a blue flame.

The air admitted through the apertures 42 and 43 unites with the superficial portion of the stream of atomized oil and air to form a combustible mixture around the core of the stream, the core of the stream being `noncombustible because of insufficient air. The core of the stream projected from the nozzle 19 is therefore surrounded by an envelopeof flame whereby it is vaporized and gasified. The velocity of flow of the stream may be greater than the rate of flame propagation, but due to the fact that the air supply through the holes 42, 42, and 43, 43, is at a lowerI rate fcof flow than the rate of flame' propagation,

combustion is maintained in the space surrounding the stream which ignites the outer layer of the stream even when the velocity of the stream is greater than 'the rate of flame propagation.

the fact that if some of the carbon and hydrogen bonds should break down, the products of combustion will form a mixture with the released carbon, so that the products of combustion serve as a conveyor for the re- There is no'deposit of carboii or soot due to-` leased carbon, thus keeping it in a suspendedl 5 motives and other devices wherein space is limited. The apparatus is readily adaptable for other purposes than that .described in detail above. For instance, the apparatus may be used for the distillation of heavy liquid fuel into lighter and more combustible liquids, different condensation chambers being provided for this purpose.

One apparatus for practicing the present invention has been described in detail. Many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It .is intended in this application to cover all modifications of my improved process that fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An oil gasifier comprising a gasifying chamber, an inlet valve for liquid fuel, a nozzle leading to said chamber, means providing a passage from said valve to said nozzle, sald nozzle having an air inlet and being adapted to project a spray of oil mixed with air into said chamber, control means for said valve, control means for said nozzle, gearing including an idler gear connecting said control means, said idler gearbeing readily thrown into or out of gear, whereby said control means may be adjusted relative to one another or may be controlled as a unit.

2. An oil gasifier comprising a nozzle for projecting a mixture of liquid fuel vapor and air, a prlmary qualifying chamber for receiving Huid from said nozzle, said primary chamber having its inner wall curved about axes normal to the axis of said nozzle to deflect said vapor and air .back toward said nozzle, said primary chamber having air'deJl livery means in the walls thereof for'admitting air into said primary chamber in directions to set up a swirl within said primary chamber about `an axis normal to the axis of said nozzle, and a secondary gasifying cham' ber communicating with said primary chamber, communication between said chambers being through a neck unsymmetrically disposed,relative to said two chambers.

3. An oil gasifier comprising a nozzle for projectinga mixture of liquid fuel vapor and air, a primary gasifying chamber for receiving fluid from` said nozzle, said primary, chamber having its inner wall curved about axes normal to the axis of said nozzle to deflect said fluid back toward said nozzle with a swirling motion, and a secondary gasifying chamber communicating with said primarv chamber through a neck, said neck being inclined relative to thefaxis of said nozzle, whereby the outer region of the swirling mixture within said primary chamber is deflected into said secondary chamber. s

4. An oil gasifier comprising a nozzle for projecting a mixture of liquid fuel vapor and air, a primary gasifying chamber for receiving fluid from said nozzle, said primary chamber having its inner wall curved about axes normal to the axis of said nozzle to deflect said fluid back toward said nozzle with a swirling motion and having' air jets for aiding said swirlino' motion about an axis. normalto the axis of said nozzle, and a secondary gasifying chambercommunicating with said primary chamber through a neck unsymmetrically disposed relative to said chambers, said neck having its axis inclined toward the oncoming particles being swirled about in said primary chamber.

5. An oil gasifier including a nozzle for projecting a mixture of liquid fuel vapor and air, a primary gasifying chamber for receiving said mixture from said nozzle, said primary chamber having Vportions of its inner wall curved about axes normal to the axis of said nozzle, and a secondary gasifying chamber communicating with said primary chamber through a neck unsymmetrically disposed relative to said axis of said nozzle.

6. An oil gasifier including a nozzle for projecting a mixture of liquid fuel vapor and air, a primary gasifying chamber for receiving said mixture from said nozzle, said primary chamber having portions of its inner Wall curved about axes normal to the axis of said nozzle, and a secondary gasifying chamber communicating with said primar chamber through a neck unsymmetrically isposed relative to said axis of said nozzle, a portion of the all of said secondarychamber being globular in form, whereb to promote swirling within said secondary c amber.

7. An oil gasiiier comprisin a nozzlefor projecting a mixture of liquid fuel vapor and air, a primary gasifying chamber for receiving said mixture from said nozzle, said chamber having its inner wall curved about axes normal to said nozzle for deiecting said mixture back toward said nozzle without abrupt turns, said primary chamber having air delivery means in ,the Walls thereof for admitting air into said primary chamber in directions -to set up a swirl within said primary chamber about anLaxis normal'to the axis of said nozzle, a secondary gasifying chamber communicating with 'said primary chamber, communication between said chambers bein through a neck unsymmetrically dispose relative to said two chambers, an air contain- `air container through said air delivery means.

8. An oil gasifier comprising a nozzle for projecting a mixture of liquid fuel vapor and air, a primary gasifying chamber for receiving said mixture from said nozzle, said chamber having its inner'wall curved about axes normal to said nozzle for deflecting said mixture back toward said nozzle without abrupt turns, said 'primary chamber being shaped to promotes. swirlin motion of said mixture within said primary c amber, and a secondary gasifying c amber communicating with said primary chamber through a neck unsymmetrically disposed' relative to said chambers, said neck having its axis inclined toward the oncoming particles being swirled about in said primar chamber. 9. A gasi er for converting a heavy liquid fuel into a combustible gas, l comprising means for delivering a stream of said fuel in atomized form, a gasifying chamber for receiving said stream, said chamber having portions of its inner wall curved about axes normal to the axis of said nozzle, said chamber being provided with passageways for admitting a secondary supply of air' in a direction relative to said curved wall portions midway between the corresponding tangent and the corresponding normal line to cause a circumferential movement within said cham- 10. Apparatus for converting a liquid fuel into a combustible gas, which comprises means for projecting a stream of primary air and oil particles, a gasifying chamber for receiving said stream, said chamber having inner wall portions curved about axes normal to the axis of said projecting means, said chamber having passageways arranged relative to said curved wall portions in lines midway between the corresponding tangents and the corresponding normal lines of said curved wall portions for commingling a part of said stream with secondar air jets to form a. superficial combusti le mixture, whereby said combustible mixture when ignited may convert the unconsumed air particles into gas of predetermined fixation.

11. In an oil gasiier, in combination, a gasifying chamber, a nozzle for projecting a4 mixture of oil and air into said chamber, the inner wall of said chamber being curved about axes normal to the axis of said nozzle and one side of said inner wall being longer -than the other side thereof, said chamber having an outlet definin the extremities of said sides unsymmetrica y disposed relative to the axis of projection of said nozzle whereby to deflect superficial particles of said mixture projected by said nozzle backinto proximity with said nozzle, and air supply means, said chamber being provided with passageways providing communication between said air supply means and the interior of said chamber, said passageways being disposed in positions to direct air in directions to set up a circumferential swirl within said chamber.

12. In an oil gasifier, in combination, a gasifying chamber, a nozzle for projecting a mixture of oil and air into said chamber, the inner wall of said chamber being curved about axes normal to the axis of said nozzle and one side of said inner wall being longer than the other side thereof, said chamber havin an outlet defining the extremities of said s1des unsymmetrically disposed relative to the axis of projection of said nozzle where- \by to defiect superficial particles of said mixture projected by said nozzle back into proximity with said nozzle, air supply means, said chamber being provided with passageways providing communication between said air supply means and the interior of said chamber, said passageways being disposed in positions to direct air 1n directions to set up a circumferential swirl 4within said chamber, and synchronously operating means for controlling the supply of air to said nozzle and to said air supply means.

13. In an oil gasifier, in combination, a gasifying chamber having curved inner wall portions, means for projecting a mixture of air and atomized liquid fuel into said chamber, said curved inner wall `portions bein curved about axes normal tothe axis of sai projecting means, one side of said chamber being longer than the other side thereof, said chamber having an outlet unsymmetrically disposed relative to said projecting means, said outlet defining the extremities of said sides, said chamber providing passageways, means for projecting air through said passageways into the superficial portion of said mixture whereby to form a superficial combustible envelope, said passageways being disposed in a direction to communicate a circumferential movement to said mixture about axes normal to the axis of said projectmg means.

14. In an oil gasifier, in combination, a receptacle, a gasifying chamber disposed within said receptacle, means for delivering a mixture. of air and atomized liquid fuel into said chamber, means for delivering air into said receptacle, unitary control means for said two delivering means, said chamber being provided with passageways communicating with the interior of said receptacle which passageways are disposed in positions to direct air from said receptacle in directions to set up a circumferential movement in the mixture in said chamber about axes normal to the axis of said delivering means, one wall of said chamber being longer than the opposite wall thereof, said chamber having an outlet unsymmetrically disposed relative to said delivering means, said outlet defining the extremities of said sides.

15. An oil gasifier including a nozzle for -projecting a mixture of liquid fuel vapor as to set up a whirl in said mixture about an axis normal to the axis of said nozzle, one side Wall of said chamberlbeing longer than the opposite side wall thereof, said chamber having an outlet unsymmetrically disposed relelative to the axis of projection of said nozz e.

16. An oil gasier comprising a housing providing a gasifying chamber, an air container surrounding said housing,A a `nozzle communicating with said chamber for delivering a mixture of oil spray and air into said chamber, one'side of said chamber being longer than the opposite side thereof, said chamber having an outlet unsymmetrically disposed relative to the axis of projection of said nozzle, the inner Wall of said chamber being curved to deect particles of oil spray and air back toward said nozzle, and an air container surrounding said housing, said housing being provided with passages connecting the interior thereof with said air container, said passages having their axes so disposed as to set up a swirl l`Within said chamber about an axis normal to thevaxis of said nozzle.

17. An oil gasier comprising, in combinationa nozzle, a gasifying chamber having inner Wall portions curved about axes normal to the axis of said nozzle, said chamber being provided with' means for setting upa Huid baile for said mixture in a direction toset up 5 a swirl within said chamber about an axis normal to the axis of said nozzle, one side Wall of said chamber being longer than the opposite side wall thereof, said chamber having an outlet defining the extremities of said side Walls unsymmetrically disposed relative to the axis of rojection of said nozzle.

Signed at lizabeth, New Jersey, thislth day of November, 1924.

' GEORGE L. REICHHELM. 

